Subscribe to this blog

Sign Up for Our Emails

Review: Wrong Ways Down by Stacia Kane

Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series is one that took me completely by surprise. It had been recommended to me by Goodreads, based on the books on my shelves, for
months, when I finally got a break in my TBR list and picked up Unholy Ghosts, a book which changed everything for me. Since then I've certainly been suffering from Terrible Fever, and I've recommended these to anyone with a strong stomach, and the fortitude to find the beauty that lurks within this deeply dark and disturbing series. I still think this is one of the best series you aren't reading, as I explained in this post.

When I finishedChasing Magic, unable to find any mention of continuing the series, I was distraught, but Ms. Kane eventually put my fears to rest, saying that there would be more Downside coming. Although there were no concrete details (and still aren't, really), I was satisfied with that vague answer and ever so patiently waited for more. First up was to be a novella from Terrible's point-of-view, taking place during the events of Unholy Magic, the news of which made all of us Terrible fans simultaneously squee with joy and gnaw on our fingernails, knowing what happened in Chess's world during that book.

Terrible POV made us Squee!

Wrong Ways Down was finally released earlier this month, and I jumped back into Downside as quickly as I could. Was is worth the wait? Did I love Terrible's POV as much as I have Chess's tales? Has my love affair with Downside ended, or am I still eager for more? Click through to find out what I thought of the latest in this dark, gritty series. Oh, and I managed to leave out any spoilers!

Everything Chess & Terribleis so beautiful to us.

I am always completely stunned by a Downside book, and as usual this novella left me speechless. This should not be a world, a premise, that interests me, but Stacia Kane writes the dichotomy between the harsh world of Downsisde and the noble reasons for her protagonists' choices such that I cannot NOT love these characters or these books. It's easy to see the beauty in a flower or a mountaintop sunset, but it is true talent that shines the light on the beauty within this harsh, unforgiving, and ugly world. And while Terrible's actions are hideous, his reasons are noble, and his feelings for Chess are stunningly beautiful.

Terrible makes our hearts hurt.

At face value, Terrible is, well, a terrible person. He beats people up daily and kills without compunction whenever he needs to. In WWD we see Terrible kill without remorse, and it's as shocking and awful as it should be. But, because we are inside his head, we know that the reasons for his actions are a combination of duty, honor, and his own low self-esteem. His past is every bit as tragic as Chess's, and I loved getting a glimpse of what makes Terrible who he is. He is truly an anti-hero, someone whose actions are not socially acceptable, who doesn't look like a traditional hero, who is deeply, tragically flawed. It would be so easy to go down the path of evil, but instead Terrible chooses to protect those he loves, to live by a code of honor that makes perfect sense in his world.

In the main Downside novels, Terrible is a bright, shining ray of sunshine in Chess's world, someone who sees only the beauty within her. He knows that she is an addict, a junkie, but that is not what he sees when he looks at her. For Terrible, Chess is different from the rest of the junkies, and he only wants to save her, to protect her from the hurt he's certain is the cause of her addiction. That ray of beauty, that compassion, is one of the amazing things about the main books in the series, even though we see it only through Chess's POV, who is skeptical about anything good in her life. In WWD we see Chess through Terrible's eyes, and it's even more beautiful than I thought. That kind of love is a gift, and I feel lucky for the chance to witness it.As always, this installment of the Downside series is dark, gritty, and often difficult to read, but it's also inspiring to see these characters thriving and finding goodness in such a harsh world. I love this series, and Wrong Ways Down only adds to the amazing story.

Can't wait for more Terrible!

Are you enthralled with the Downside world, Saucy Readers? Is Terrible your perfect anti-hero, or just a villain? Share your Downside thoughts below!

Post a Comment

You Might Want to Read...

Giddy with anticipation for the release of Karen Marie Moning's Iced, a lot of the Wenches have been thinking about Dani "Mega" O'Malley, the young sidhe-seer we first met in Bloodfever, who is poised to step out of the shadows behind Mac and Rowena and take center stage. Though Moning has recently said the three books she is writing for Dani will continue the story we've been following in the Fever books, the POV will shift to reveal the next chapters through Dani's eyes.

With our heads firmly buried in Shadowfever in a frenzied effort to finish our rereads before the new release, we Wenches have been wondering what's in store for Dani. But no one has wanted to stop reading long enough to write a proper tribute to our young heroine as she prepares to take the leap to leading lady. Though we all think she's pretty awesome and deserves a big ticker-tape parade to show our support.

So a sneaky Wench tried the stealth approach and asked us for just a fe…

A SUPER Spoilery Discussion of Feversong by Karen Marie Moningby: Zee the Terrible and Barbara BonesIt's now been two weeks since we got our hot little hands on Feversong, the final book in the Mac & Barrons part of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. It's almost all we can talk about in the Saucy Wenches hallways (which is really online, but you get the drift) and we have lots of thoughts and opinions so we aren't putting off our Super Spoilery Recap Extravaganza any longer!

Zee told you about how much she loved it in her Wench review, here, and it will surprise exactly no one that Barb did, too. Loved it to pieces. Thought it was pretty much perfect, exactly the kind of conclusion KMM has been promising us since she gave us Iced, leaving everyone precisely where they need to be. That said, we have lots and lots and LOTS of thoughts. So come with us through the jump where we're dishing all the dirt, in filthy, spoilery detail. We mentioned that spoilers would a…

If you've been following our What the Wenches are Reading posts, you'll know that I recently finished up a re-read of the last three Fever books, Iced, Burned, and Feverborn. You may also know that I've been rereading the Chicagoland Vampire series and posting the questions I've come up with as I go. Well, as I was re-reading the Fever books, I realized I have some questions for Ms. Karen Marie Moning also. Now, I really don't expect to get answers to most, if not all, of these questions. That doesn't mean that I won't even bother asking. On the contrary, knowing that we may never know the answers is driving me fucking crazy. Keep reading after the break to see what these questions are and hopefully watch me stave off the madness a little longer.

Or How I Learned to Stop, Smell the Pig Shite, and Fall in Love with the Fifth Book in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander Series

As the wait for the new Outlander book and television series drags on (and oooooonnnnnnnnaaaarrrggghhh), many fans have been rereading the first seven books in the series. Fascinating online discussions abound as to the motivations of the characters, the nuances of meaning within various scenes, and future possibilities and foreshadowing.

Amongst enthusiastic effusions about all things even remotely associated with our beloved series, I’ve seen one recurring subject of complaint. People like to pick on The Fiery Cross. “It’s too slow.” “It doesn’t have enough action.” “Where’s the mystery?”

So during my recent reread, I set out to take a few notes about memorable moments. But I gave that up early on. There were far too many. Because the book was like a beautiful love letter straight from the heart of Diana Gabaldon. Lovingly crafted. For me and the legions of other fan…

They say there is no such thing as a perfect person. I disagree. There exists one man who is the embodiment of perfection. That one man is Jensen Ackles. Don't believe me? Well, for this fangirl Friday, I am here to prove to you that Jensen Ackles is the world's most perfect man. Though, I will concede to the fact that there are, in actuality, several perfect men out there. But, Jensen is definitely one of them. He's got it all, the whole package. Looks, talent, personality, everything. Keep reading after the jump to watch me go into full on fangirl meltdown. Or, as some of my friends call it, a full-on Jensen Situation. Yes, we have a term for reveling in his perfection.

Stalk Us

Saucy Wenches Book Club's currently-reading book montage153 membersWelcome to the Saucy Wenches Book Club.
We love to read a variety of genres. In particular urban fantasy, fantasy and mystery are the main genres the group reads. We do read other genres if a series or book catches our interest.
Join us for our monthly Book of the Month, Full Series Read and Yearly Challenge.